Mike Coykendall – Half Past, Present Pending (With Exclusive Premiere of “Hard Landing”)

Having placated quite a career on recording the likes of Richmond Fontaine, M Ward, and ssktda favorite Blitzen Trapper, Portland’s Mike Coykendall has resurrected his distorted garage, psychedelic indie rock for a new record, titled Half Past, Present Pending. Slated for a July 17 release on local Fluff and Gravy Records, Half Past, Present Pending is just what the title suggests: a collection of new songs, old songs, covers of favorite songs, and a celebration thereof. The album hinges on taking the listener through the “rig”, a semi-genius contraption of rag-tag percussions and pretty much anything that chimes, a Kay electric axe, and a sonic persuasion of copious amounts reverb, delay, and fuzz. There’s even a track that sounds like someone taped my 1989 Ford Probe (cherry red on burgundy red, ladies) as I jumped it at a construction site off Route 579 in the form of “Burn On Reentry.” (Both are fun, if you’re wondering.)

Coykendall has spent three decades writing, playing, and recording music. He played guitar for the Zooey Deschanel/M Ward project, She & Him, and championed critic friendly bands like Klyde Konner and later The Old Joe Clarks. But he’s never been too far from exercising his musical creativity.

This record falls on the heels of 2012’s Chasing Away the Dots, his third solo and first release on the Fluff and Gravy stamp. Half Past opens with a stretched-out stoner-esque bluesy  “All That I Wanted.” And, with that, the record sets sail for what is a journey of tumultuous seas, at times brilliant, at others beyond even Captain Beefheart’s left field. There’s never a dull moment or space. Inspired covers the likes of Carlos Forster’s “Travel Round the World” appear before Coykendall dives into a cover of Roger Miller’s anthemic “Summertime,” reimagined as a  Supersuckers-meets-Primus, Eddie Spaghetti/Les Claypool frankentrack. A twangy interpretation of Roger Waters’ “Paranoid Eyes” is another gem in the cover department.

Not to be outdone, Coykendall can write some catchy tunes himself. We’re honored to be premiering a beautifully sad number called “Hard Landing.” It dabbles in the delusional realities of loneliness, is self-deprecating in champion form, and a true loner’s anthem. In other words, it’s perfect. This song is easy to internalize and therefore easy to apply to your own insecurities. It’s like a band-aid in song form. Unwrap, peel, and apply. Unfortunately it’s imperative to hurt first.  (words: sz)

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